Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-06-03
NO. A.,
Seeking Il Refuge.

Seeking Refuge.
We'll, declare, father" said Mrs, Mar
iow' coming downstairs quite out of
breath, "how ii does rain? Who'd
thought 1t when twas SO pleasant this
afternoous"
Capt NARROW rubbed the bald spot on
ms head rehectiyely as he returned
Does pour, that's fact"
The storm continued with little abste
ment. Jrst as one peal of thunder died
away an indistinct sound reach the ears
OF the two people in the long Kitchen.
They regarded each other uuestioninclv
for r oment; then there was rattle of
the door-latch. Some one outside wac
groping for 1t IN the darkness.
Ihe maA started up, and going to the
door threw II wide open to the storm, but
he stepped back as he did so, for there,
on the door-stonc, stood figure strange
TO him. The next moment his hospitali-
~ overcaHe every other feeling, and
reaching out he said: "Whoever We are.
come in"
Airs. NARROW was by his side and gazing
IN amazement at the slight, white-robed
hgure. 1t was young girl they had new
er seen before. There was a frightened
appealing look IN the brown eyes. The
wind and rain had beaten upon her head
TIL the dark, curling hair was drenched
and clInglng about her neck. Mrs. Mar
lows motherly arms stretched out instiuc-
lively. Poor child" she said. drawing
her to the room, why father, she is wet
through and through"
Capt. NARROW set about making a fire
IN the cock stove, while his wife took the
stranger into the little led room. YOUR.
all beat out" the gold old women said,
pltlngly. You'd better so right to bed.
The girl nade no remonstrances, but
submitted qnlte passively to whatever
was proposed. She took the warm drink
Mrs. MARROW brought her. and when the
woman went back to the kitchen she said:
Il declare, father, the peer hipg's com.
pleuy hsat out and she's fast asleep al
ready"
Anxious days followed while the straug-
er tossed in the delirium of fever. and
Mrs. NARROW cared for her as tenderly as if
she had heen her own. Poor thing" she
SAID, tears coming into her eyes as she
spoke, "lt makes my heart ache to think
she Is away from all she loves"
There was no clew to the girls former
life, no one on the island knew ANYTHING
about her, and all inquiries brought no
knowledge. Mrs. NARROW searched the
girls clothing, but only one word was
found, and one day she slipped ring off
from the wasted hand and looked for
some inscription, there was only theword
she had found before, the name Kath-
leep.
At last they knew she was growing
stronger. Still the doctor looked grave
and continued his visits after she WAS
able 10 walk about.
But as time went on there was no
change. She answered TO the name of Kath-
leen, and called Capt and Mrs. NARROW
father and mother, as she heard them
call each other. She seemed quite hap
Ply roaming about the island, only when
any mention was made of going on the
water troubled look came fnte her face.
NO" she always said, II would rather
not" so they did not urge her. She was
hardly 20, Mrs. NARROW thought, of a
slight figure, and carelessly graceful rs
child. Her completion of creamy.
almost transparent whiteness, the Grim
son showing OILY in her cheeks and
lips.
The fall, winter, and early spring pas
ed uneventfully away. Then one day a
stranger made his way to the side door of
the old NARROW house. A Young man
with clear cut features and an unmistake-
ably well bred air. There was an eager
look in the steel-blue eyes and suppress
ed excitement, in his manner when he
asked the gray y-haired woman at the door
if she was Mrs. NARROW. He introduced
himself by card on which was the name
Everett Moulton. Then he entered and
made known his call.
Kathleen came into the next room
while he was speaking. She heard the
voice and paused, the troubled look com
ing into her face; then she went nearer
and stood in the doorway. The young
man turned and saw her as she started
toward him, with a new light breaking in
to her face.
Everett, she said, softly, 'have you
come for met"
Yes, Kathleen
And Mrs. NARROW, with tears III her
eyes, went ont and left them alone.
Ere long the story became known A
little more than year back Kathleen
Bray, the daughter of man of supposed
wealth, found himself, upon his death,
left penniless and alone. She accepted
for the summer the position of pianist
at a popular hotel, where she met Everett
Moulton. The acquaintance grew into
something more then friendship, out the
Moultons were proud family, and would
not hear to the only'son'. marrying a poor
girl like Kathleen.
She was treated coldly, by ther, till
her sensitive nature was stung beyond
endurance, and late one afternoon, hard
ly thinking or caring where sho went, she
entered boat moored near the shore
and rowed aimlessly up the river. The
storm came on, and weary, bewiIdered, i'll,
she found her way at length to the old
NARROW homestead. The boat was found
down the river after with light wrap in
it, reconized as hers. The Moultons
thought she had taken herself discreetIy
away, and Everett mourned her as lost
until friend wrote to him of hearing
music strangely like that Kathleen had
played on one of the Boothbay islands.
he had made inquiries which resulted in
Everett calling OF the Marlew5.
With Kathleen he went to Chipunk is
land, and on the scene of her happiness
and misery the meaning of it all came
back to her and was never lost again.